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Our Purpose

As a non for profit medical foundation, acting in the public interest, we aim to educate and support Australian sufferers of neuroendocrine cancer (NET) and their families by increasing their awareness and knowledge of the disease.

We also aim to direct donations to Australian researchers and institutions who will work towards a cure for this rare and unpopular group of cancers. By working closely with medical groups we hope to raise the profile of neuroendocrine cancer and foster greater knowledge and involvement of primary health care practitioners and help ensure best practice care for patients with this rare group of tumours.

Why the Unicorn?

The use of the Unicorn as a symbol of our foundation came about after reading the following unverified quote from Marianna Mayer (author)... "The unicorn is the only fabulous beast that does not seem to have been conceived out of human fears. In even the earliest references he is fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously beautiful. He could be captured only by unfair means, and his single horn was said to neutralize poison”

This interpretation personalised our feelings of what it is like to unfairly suffer from neuroendocrine cancer. The sufferer needs to be fierce in their battle with the disease and is always searching for the single horn to cure this rare condition.

Other symbols commonly used by NET groups around the world, share similar imagery to the Unicorn. The Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network (CCAN) uses the zebra, again highlighting the relative rarity of the disease...”In medical school, doctors are taught ‘when hearing hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras’. Since Carcinoid and neuroendocrine cancer patients are relatively rare, they may be thought of as zebras. This symbol and it’s colouring of black and white has been taken by a number of other groups such as CNETS Canada and CNETS Singapore.